1790 Overview

A crisis known as the Spanish Armament developed during April that was by far the most serious since the end of the American Revolutionary war. Britain and Spain clashed over the rights to Nookta Sound on the North American Pacific coast, and although the Spanish capitulated without resorting to arms it was not before the greater part of the British fleet had been mobilised under Admiral Lord Howe.

On 28 August the Endymion 44, which had been seconded to the Transport Service, was wrecked off the Turks and Caicos Islands, but thankfully with minimal loss of life. Back in England the tyrannical ways of Lieutenant Richard Hancorn of the Melampus led to him being verbally abused by five midshipmen in a Portsmouth tavern during June, and resulted in a court case at Winchester Assizes.